Golf game apparatus



Jan. 17, 1933. R. E. ADAMS GOLF GAME APPARATUS Filed March 5, 1931 4sheetse sheet 1 W 1, mm a h. .W W m" j m J.

Jan. 17, 1933. v R. E. ADAMS 1,894,722

- I GOLF GAME APPARATUS Filed March 5, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 17,1933.

R. E. ADAMS 1,894,722

GOLF GAME APPARATUS Filed March 5, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I gwucnioz Jan.17, 1933 R. E. ADAMS GOLF GAME APPARATUS Filed March 5, 1931 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 17, 1933 PATENT OFFICE ROBERT E. ADAMS, ornew YORK, N. Y.

GOLF GAME APPARATUS Application filed March '5, 1931. Serial No.520,416.

This invention relates to game apparatus and more particularly toapparatus for use in restricted areas for playing a modified game ofgolf.

As distinguished from miniature golf, the present invention contemplatesthe use of full size balls and clubs, the same as are used for thestandard game.

In order, however, to permit the players to drive the ball with the sameforce that they would use if playing the regular game, I provideyielding means for arresting the flight of the ball,-so that the ball isbrought to rest within a relatively short distance.

The invention further contemplates the provision of means for causingthe ball, after its flight has been thus arrested, to continue to moveor roll in substantially the same general direction in which it wastravelling. in this way, the ball will come to rest on or adjacent thegreen or on or adjacent a hazard, in accordance with the direction inwhich it has been driven, justas in a regular ame. 25 b Morespecifically, I propose to provide one or more curtains for arrestingthe flight of the ball, and I propose to paint or otherwise depict uponthese curtains a representation of the green and associated hazards,showing them in the same relative position which they actually occupy atthe rear of such curtains. In order that the invention may be readilyunderstood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one arrangement of my improved apparatus;

Figure 2 is a central vertical section through the same on the line 22of Figure 1;

will be understood that my improved apparatus is especially designed foruse indoors or in other restricted spaces. 1 designates a tee from whichthe ball may be driven by use of the usual clubs. Extending across whatcorresponds to the fairway, and in front of the players position at thetee is a vertically disposed hanging curtain, shown as comprising threesections 2, 3 and 4:, suspended from a horizontal frame 5 supported byvertical frame members 6 setinto the floor or other playing surface. Byreference to Figure 1, it will be seen that the curtain sec tions aredisposed at different angles, the middle section 3 extendingdirectlyacross the line between the tee and green and the other two sectionsbeing disposed at each side of the section 3 and extending at an anglethereto and to each other, being inclined outwardly toward the tee.Furthermore, the side sections 2 and a are preferably offset withrespect to the section 3 and are located somewhat nearer the tee, asclearly shown in Figure 1. The result of this is that the three curtainsections, when viewed 7 from the front, present an unbroken c0ncavesurface.

Beneath each curtain section is an inclined surface, such surfaces beingdesignated 7 8 and 9, and each surface sloping rearwardly in a directionaway from the tee.

The lower edge of each curtain section, which preferably carries a rod16,-as shown in Figure 2, is spaced slightly from the inclined surface,such as 8, so as to provide an opening 10 of suficient size to permit agolf ball to pass freely therethrough.

Extending across the fairway between the tee 1 and the above describedcurtain sections is a transversely disposed vertical fixed shield orbarrier 11. This is illustrated as made of flexible material supportedon a frame 12 set into the floor or the like, and having at its loweredge a rod 17. This rod is preferably either fastened to the floor orsecured to the side members of the frame 12, so as to hold the shield orbarrier 11 in fixed position.

This shield or-barrier is relatively low, as compared with the curtainsections, but is of 100 such height as to prevent a ball from beingdriven directly against the high portion of the inclined surfaces 7, 8and 9,01 through the space 10 between such surfaces and the curtainsections. Preferably, the shield or barrier 11 is of such height as toprevent the spaces or openings 10 from being visible to a playerstanding at the tee.

As clearly shown in Figure 1, a green is 10 designated at 13 and isarranged behind the curtain sections, above described. Preferably it isdisposed directly behind the central section 3. Adjacent and on eitherside of this green may be located hazards of various kinds, such asbunkers 14 and sand tra s 15.

eferring again to Figures 2 and 3, I propose to paint or otherwisedepict upon the curtain sections 2, 3 and 4, a representation of thegreen and hazards which are behind the curtain sections. Thus, in Figure3 I have shown depicted upon the curtain sections a green 13", bunkers14* and sand traps 15, which, it will be seen, correspond in theirlocation and relative position to the elements 13,14 and 1.), shown inFigure 1. Thus, when a player drives off from the tee, he can see beforehim a representation of the green and hazards, and he can thus be guidedin his efforts to properly direct the ball.

When the ball is driven, it strikes one of the curtain sections 2, 3 or4:, and its flight is thereby arrested, the curtain yieldingsufficiently to prevent any substantial rebound,

; The ball strikes the curtain and falls dead to the lower edge thereof,where it rolls down the sloping r inclined surface, such as 8, andpasses between such surface and the lower edge of the curtain. It willbe seen that the maximum angle of slope of each of the surfaces 7, 8 and9 is at substantial right angles to the corresponding curtain section.As result, a ball falling upon any of these surfaces will roll in adirection substantially at right angles to the corresponding curtain.

As a result of the above arrangement, it will be seen that when a ballstrikes one of the curtain sections, and has its flight thus arrested,it will fall upon the corresponding inclined surface beneath the curtainand will roll down such surface, continuing to move in the same generaldirection as that in which it was travelling when it struck the curtain.Therefore, if the player makes a perfect shot, and strikes the curtainsection 3 near the middle, the ball will roll down the inclined surface8, and will thus c011- tinue its movement in a direction toward thegreen 13, on which it will probably come to rest. If, on the other hand,the player drives the ball to one side, it will strike one of thecurtain sections 2 or 1, and will roll down one of the inclined surfaces7 or 9, in such a direction as will cause it to come to rest in oradjacent the hazards 14 and 15.

After having driven ofit' from the tee as described, the player willthen walk around behind the curtain and proceed to make the hole in thegreen with as few strokes as possible, just as in a regular game. Itwill, of course, be understood that any desired types of clubs may beused during these subsequent strokes.

Referring now to Figures 4, 5 and 6, I have shown a slightly modifiedarrangement of apparatus embodying the same general principle. In thesefigures, I employ a tee 1, the same as in the first three figures, andarrange a green 13 surrounded by hazards such as bunkers 1 1 and sandtraps 15.

Extending transversely across the fairway at right angles to the lineadjoining the tee and green is a single vertical curtain 18 supported ona frame 19 and having at its lower edge a rod 22 to stiffen the same.Beneath this rod is disposed a single rearwardly inclined surface 8,this surface being spaced from the lower edge of the curtain to providean opening through which the ball may freely pass.

Disposed in front of this curtain 18 is a relatively low shield orbarrier 20, supported at its upper edge 21 by a member secured to theframe 19, and having at its lower edge a rod 23 which may be secured tothe floor or frame 19 so as to hold the barrier in fixed position. a

As before, I paint or otherwise depict upon the screen 18 arepresentation of the green and hazards which are actually behind thescreen, such representation showing these elements in the same relationwhich they actually occupy. Thus, there is depicted on the screen agreen 13, bunkers 14 and sand pits corresponding respectively to theelements 13, 14 and 15, shown in Figure 4.

In order to increase the artistic effect, the upper edge 21 of theshield or barrier may be more or less irregular, as shown in Figure 6.The upper edge of the barrier 11, shown in Figure 3, may likewise begiven an irregular contour, if desired.

Furthermore, there may be painted upon the curtains, such as 2, 3, 4 and18 and also upon the shields or barriers 11 and 20, if desired, therepresentation of trees or shrubs, or other scenery tending to addreality to the golf course.

In using the apparatus shown in Figures 4 to 6, the ball driven by theplayer from the tee will strike the curtain 18 and fall to the loweredge thereof, where it rolls down the incline 8' through the space 10.If properly directed, the ball will roll out behind the curtain in thedirection of the green 13. Otherwise, it will roll out to one side orthe other and come to rest adjacent some of the various hazards.

It will be understood that should the ball, when driven from the tee,strike the shield or barrier 11 or 20, it will rebound to some extentand fall upon the fairway, from which position it must be driven bysubsequent strokes, the same as in a regular game.

It will be further understood that a complete'golf course will be madeup of nine or any other desired number of holes such as shown either inFigures 1 to 3 or Figures 4; to 6, such holes being disposed in sequenceand so arranged as to best fit into the space available.

What I claim is:

1. Golf apparatus comprising a tee, fairway and green, a substantiallyvertical curtain interposed between the tee and green, and an inclinedsurface disposed beneath said curtain and sloping in a direction awayfrom said tee, the lower edge of said curtain being adjacent saidsurface but spaced therefrom a distance sufficient to permit the passageof a ball.

2. Golf apparatus comprising a tee, fairway and green, a substantiallyvertical curtain interposed between the tee and green, an inclinedsurface disposed beneath said curtain and sloping in a direction awayfrom said tee, the lower edge of said curtain being adjacent saidsurface but spaced therefrom a distance sufficient to permit the passageof a ball, and

a relatively low fixed barrier interposed between said curtain and tee,and extending transversely of the fairway, said barrier being ofsufficient height to prevent a ball being driven from said tee directlythrough the space beneath said curtain.

3. Golf apparatus comprising a tee and green, and various hazardsassociated with the latter, a substantially vertical curtain meansinterposed between the tee and green to arrest the flight of the ball,and means causing the ball to move onward behind said ourtain meansafter its flight has been arrested, said curtain means having depictedon the front side thereof a representation 'of said green and hazards,showing the same in the same relative position which they actuallyoccupy at the rear'of said curtain.

4. Golf apparatus comprising a tee, fairway and green, a substantiallyvertical curtain interposed between the tee and green, and serving toarrest the flight of the ball, and means for causing the ball to roll onbeyond said curtain, after its flight has thus been arrested, in thesame general direction in which it was traveling when it struck saidcurtain.

5. Golf apparatus comprising a tee and green, and various hazardsassociated with the latter, means interposed between said tee and greenfor arresting the flight of the ball, and means for causing the ball,after its flight has been arrested, to roll in the same generaldirection as that in which it was traveling,

whereby it will come to rest either on or adjacent the green or on oradjacent some hazard, in accordance with how it was driven from the tee.

6. Golf apparatus comprising a tee, fairway and green, a substantiallyvertical curtain interposed between the tee and green and comprising aplurality of sections disposed in different angular positions, aninclined surface disposed beneath each curtain section and slopingrearwardly therefrom, the direction of maximum slope of each surfacebeing substantially at right angles to the plane of the correspondingcurtain section, and each curtain section being spaced from such surfacea distance suflicient to permit the passage of a ball.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ROBERT E. ADAMS.

